Apparatus for folding and taping box blanks

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing a carton form from a planar box blank having first and second side edges, a first score line parallel to the side edges and centrally located therebetween, and second and third score lines parallel to the first score line and located on the opposite sides thereof; with the method comprising the step of folding the box blank along the center score line whereby the first and second edges of the blank will lie in juxtaposition with respect to one another; and joining the first and second side edges. The joining is accomplished by first applying a wet adhesive to the outer surfaces of the folded box blank adjacent the side edges thereof and then applying a dry gummed tape thereover.

Verwey [451 Apr. 16,1974

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND TAPING BOX BLANKS William Verwey, Phoenix, Md.

Precision Industries, lnc-.,-Baltimore, Md.

Filed: Oct. 19, 1971 Appl. No.: 190,565

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl. 93/363, 93/39 R Int. Cl B3lb 1/60 Field of Search 93/369, 84 R, 39 R; 270/61, 86

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1972 Joa 270/86 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden ABSTRACT A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing a carton form from a planar box blank having first and second side edges, a first score line parallel to the side edges and centrally located therebetween, and second and third score lines parallel to the first score line and located on the opposite sides thereof; with the method comprising the step of folding the box blank along the center score line whereby the first and second edges of the blank will lie in juxtaposition with respect to one another; and joining the first and second side edges. The joining is accomplished by first applying a wet adhesive to the outer surfaces of the folded box blank adjacent the side edges thereof and then applying a dry gummed tape thereover.

8 Claims, 12 Qji gwlng Figures APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND TAPING'BOX BLANKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tate the formation of the carton therefrom. Generally,

the scoring of the box blank has been performed in two directions, the scoring in afirst direction establishing what are to become the top and bottom flaps of the carton while the scoring in the second direction, transverse to the first direction, establishes the positions of the folds necessary to establish the square or rectangular shape which will be finalized when a length of tape is applied to the abutting edges of the folded blank.

With respect to the scoring in the aforementioned second direction, normally there is a center score line on the opposite sides of which are located second and third score lines. For the case of a square carton, the second and third score lines would be located centrally between the center score line and a respective side edge. As well known in the art, in thecase of a rectangular carton, the second and third score lines are located in complimentary fashionwith respect to the center score line and the side edges of the blank. That is the second score line would be located the same distance from the corresponding side edge as the third score line would be located from the center score line.

In the formation of the carton, the blank is folded along the second and third score lines and a strip of moistened gummed tape is applied to the outer surfaces of the box blank adjacent to the abutting side-edges thereof.

The above described prior art technique of producing the carton form from the planar box blank has several disadvantages which the instant invention effectively eliminates. In the firstplace, it will be appreciated that the prior art mechanism for folding the box blanks must be capable of performing two folds upon the box blank. As noted above, such folds take place upon what, for convenience sake, has been designated the second and third score lines of the box blank. Obviously, a machine or mechanism for performing two folds on a box blank must be relatively sophisticated and complex. Moreover, with two. folds being per"- formed on a box blank, if the folds are not perfectly parallel, difficulty is experienced in squaring the-abutting side edges of the box blank for the subsequent application of tape thereto.

Another problem encountered in prior art apparatus of the type herein discussed relates to difficulty of handling and applying the tape employed to join the abutting edges ofthe folded box blank. In the prior art, the gummed tape is moistened and then the moistened tape second side edges, a first score line parallel to the side edges and centrally located therebetween, and second and third score lines parallel to the first score line and located on opposite sides thereof, with the method comprising the steps of folding the box blank along the first center score line whereby with one fold, the first and second side edges of the box blank will lie in juxtaposition; and then joining the first and second sides edges. It will be appreciated that since only one fold is being performed, that the mechanism for performing the folding operation can be materially simplified with respect to the mechanism necessary to perform the dual folds of the prior art.

As a further feature of the instant invention, the method and apparatus contemplated for joining the abutting sides edges of the box blank include first applying an adhesive to the outer surface of the box blank adjacent the abutting side edges and then applying a dry gummed tape thereover. Again this technique is to be contrasted with the prior art which employs the step of applying wet tape to the moving carton. In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the tape is first scoi ed'and then formed into an inverted V-shape prior to its'application to the outer surface of the box blank.

' Finally, and as will be shown below it has been found that carton forms produced in accordance with the instant invention do not experience the opening difficulty associated with prior art boxes.

Accordingly it is an object of the instant invention to provide a method and apparatus for producing a carton form from a planar box blank which requires the application of only one fold to the box blank.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide such a method and apparatus for producing a carton form from a planar box blank in which the abutting edges of the folded box blank are joined by a strip of dry gummed tape applied over previously deposited adhesive.

These and other objects of the instant invention had by referring to the following descriptions and drawings which form a part hereof.

is applied to the abutting edges of the blank. It is in fact a SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contradistinction to the prior art, the instant invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a carton form from a planar box blank having first and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. la is a' perspective view of a planar box blank and further suggesting the manner in which the blank isfolded by prior art techniques to produce a carton form.

FIG. lb is a perspective view of a carton form which has been produced in accordance with the prior art folding technique illustrated in FIG. la.

FIG. 1c is an end view of a carton form which has been produced in accordance with prior art methods.

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a planar box blank and further suggesting the manner in which such blank is folded in accordance with the method'of the instant invention.

FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a carton form which has been produced in accordance with the method and apparatus of the instant invention.

FIG. 2c is an end view of a carton form produced in accordance with the instant invention as it is being opened.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the arrows 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the arrows 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the arrows 77 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the arrows 88 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning to the Figures wherein like elements bear corresponding numerals, there is shown in FIG. la, a planar corrugated box blank 10 which is employed in the production of a prior art carton form 12 shown in FIG. lb. As well known in the art, the box blank 10 is conventionally produced with a center score line 14 and second and third score lines 16 and 18 disclosed parallel to the center score line 14 in turn parallel to the side edges 20 and 22 respectively. As well known in the art, if the carton is to be square, the score lines 16 and 18 would be centrally located between the center score line 14 and the side edges 20 and 22 respectively. If a rectangular carton is desired, the score lines 16 and 18 are disposed in complimentary fashion; that is the score line 16 is spaced from the side edge 20 by the same distance as the score line 18 is spaced from the center score line 14. Transverse to the score lines 14, 16 and 18 are parallel score lines 24 and 26 which, as well known in the industry, help to define top and bottom flaps 28 and 30 respectively when the carton is eventually folded. Of course, cut out slots 32 and 34 are provided at opposite ends of the score lines 14, 16 and 18 to permit the top and bottom flap 38 and 30 to be folded once the carton is formed into square or rectangular configuration.

As suggested in phatom in FIG. la, when producing a carton form from the blank 10, automatic folding apparatus of various types is employed to fold the blank along the score lines 16 and 18 such that the side edges 20 and 22 end up in abutting relationship in the manner shown in FIG. 1b. Thereafter, and in an automatic procedure a wet strip of gummed tape 36 is applied to the outer surface of the box blank adjacent the edges 20 and 22 intermediate the transverse score lines 24 and 26. The resultant carton form 12 of FIG. 1b is now ready to be opened and folded when it is desired to form a carton.

As noted previously, there are numerous disadvantages related to the method of manufacture described with respect to FIGS. la and 112. First of all, it will be appreciated that the apparatus necessary to perform the two folds along the score lines 16 and 18 is necessarily complex and costly. Moreover, if the two folds are not perfectly parallel, then the side edges 18 and 20 will not end up in perfectly abutting relationship. Thus there is a squaring problem associated with performing two folds on the box blank 10. Furthermore, in automatic apparatus of the type involved in the subject industry, it is extremely difficult to handle the strips of wet tape 36 which are applied to the carton form moving through the production apparatus. Finally,-and with reference to FIG. 1c, in opening the carton form 12, compressive forces represented by the arrows 38 and 40 are applied to the opposite ends of the carton form 12. However, some times instead of opening up, the

carton form 12 folds in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 of FIG. 10. This is attributable to the fact that tape strip 36 does not have the same resistance to bending as the score line 14 oppositely disclosed therefrom.

Turning to FIG. 2a, in the method of the instant invention, apparatus is employed to perform only one fold upon the box blank 10. As suggested in FIG. 2a, the one fold is performed along the center score line 14, and the resultant product (FIG. 2b) necessarily ends up with the edges 20 and 22 in overlying abutting relationship. Thereafter and in a manner to be further described, an adhesive 44 is applied to the outer surfaces of the box blank adjacent the edges 20 and 22, and a dry strip of gummed tape 46 is applied in overlapping fashion intermediate the transverse score lines 24 and 26. The resultant carton form 12 is ready to be opened and the top and bottom flaps folded.

It will be appreciated that the method of the instant invention is inherently simpler than the prior art methods described with respect to FIGS. 1a and lb. Specifically, in the instant invention only one folding operation is performed (along the center score line 14), and and consequently the apparatus employed is much simpler than the apparatus of the prior art which must perform two folds. Similarly, since only one fold is performed, the squaring problem mentioned above is greatly reduced. Furthermore, by applying the adhesive to the outer surfaces of box blank in a manner to be further described, and then applying a dry gummed tape, the prior art problem of handling and applying a wet tape are completely eliminated.

Finally, and with reference to FIG. 20, when opening the carton form 12 by the application of compressive forces 48 and 50 thereto, it has been found that the form always opens in opposite directions indicated by the arrows 52 and 54 and does not cave in in the manner suggested in the prior art representation of FIG. 1c. This is attributable to the fact that the relative strengths of the score lines 16 and 18 are the same.

Turning to FIGS. 3 through 8, there are shown novel apparatus broadly designated 56 for carrying out the method of the instant invention. At the leftmost end of the apparatus (as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4) there is situated feeding means 58 for advancing the box blank 10 along a path of travel in which the center score line 14 will pass beneath a fixed center rail 60 of the folding apparatus broadly designated 62. In the embodiment illustrated, the feeding means 58 includes motor driven sprocket drives 64 which advance a pair of feed chains 66 having upstanding pushing dogs 68 thereon.

In addition to the center rail 60, the folding means 62 further include a pair of side rails 70 disposed on opposite sides of the center rail 60. As seen in FIG. 4, the side rails 70 extend from a first end 72 beneath the level of the box blanks 10 and gradually angle upwardly and to the right as viewed in FIG. 4 terminating at a second end 74. At the same time, and as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the side rails 70 are flared from a rather wide opening at their lowermost end 72, eventually converging to a relatively narrow exit throat between their second ends 74.

It will be appreciated, and as best seen perhaps in FIG. 5, that as the carton blank 10 is advanced by the feeding means 68 and guided by the side rails 76, the carton blank 10 while being maintained beneath the center rail 60 will simultaneously be urged upwardly along the coverging side rails 72. Such action has the affect of folding the box blank along the center score line 14, such that when the blank emerges from the exit throat between the ends 74 of the side rails 70, the blank will have been folded along the center score line 14 and the side edges 20 and 22 will end up in proper aligned relationship. It should be noted, and as best seen in FIG. 3, that the lower ends 72 of the side rails 70 do not quite reach the second and third score lines 16 and 18 respectively. Accordingly, the folding operation is confined to the center score line 14 with the folding apparatus 62 having no affect upon this second and third score lines of 16 and 18.

To continue the movement of the box blanks 10, second feeding means 78 are provided to grasp the box blanks as they emerge from the exit throat of the folding mechanism 62. The second feeding means comprises a pair of endless belts 80 and 82 advanced by motor driven pulleys 84 and 86. It will be noted that the conveyor belts 80 and 82 are synchronized with the movement of the chain belts 66, and furthermore that the leftmost end of the conveyor belts 80 and 82 actually receive the carton blanks 10 before they are totally independent of the first feeding means 58.

As the carton 10 is advanced to the right as viewed in FIG. 4, its leading edge 88 interrupts the beam of a photo-electric detector 90 which energizes a timer (not shown) which after a predetermined interval (corresponding to the length of the front flap 30), moves a pair of adhesive applying rollers into adhesive applying position with respect to the carton blank 10. That is, and with reference to FIG. 6, adhesive applying rollers 92 and 94 are rotatable on upright axles 96 and 98 respectively located within adhesive -supply tanks 100 and 102 respectively. Thetanks 100 and 102 are filled with adhesive solution such that the outer periphery of the rollers 92 and 94 are continually wetted with the glue therein.

The rollers 92 and 94 are normally spaced apart by a distance greater than the thickness'of the box blank 10 passing therebetween. However, once the photoelectric detector 90 is interrupted by the leading edge- 88 of the carton blank 10, and the timer clocked out (allowing the top flaps 30 time to pass the rollers 92 and 94), the glue applying rollers 92 and 94 are moved toward one another and into engagement with the box blank 10. Another timer (not shown) is provided so that the rollers apply glue 104 for a time intervalcorresponding to the time it takes to apply glue between the vertical score lines 24 and 26 in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the glue applying rollers 92 and 94 are withdrawn such that no glue is applied to the trailing bottom flap 28.

As the carton blank 10 advances, its leading edge 88 then interrupts the beam of a second photoelectric detector 106 which energizes another timer (not shown) which again is set to time out once the upper flap 3 0 is passed the tape applying means broadly designated 108. The tape applying means 108 includes a supply roll of dry gummed tape 1 10, a scoring wheel 112 (FIG. 7) a vertically reciprocating cut-off blade 114, a forming roller 116 (FIG. 8) and suitable tape advancing mechanism (not shown). As seen in FIG. 7, the scoring wheel 112 engages the under surface 118 of the tape engagement with the sides of the box blank 10. It will be appreciated that the tape 120 is advanced for a dis tance corresponding to the distance between the vertical score lines 24 and 26. Once that amount of tape has been advanced, the reciprocating cutoff blade 114 severs the tape 120, and the advancing mechanism awaits the next time out of the timer associated with the photo detector 106 before advancing the tape for the next box blank.

With reference to the rightmost portion of the apparatus 56 as shown in FIG. 4, the carton form 12 resulting includes the tape strip 46 disposed between the vertical score lines 24, 26 and when it emerges from the conveyor belts 80 and 82 it is ready to be opened, folded and utilized.

It is to be understood that for the sake of drawing clarity, the various mechanisms for opening and closing the glue rollers 92 and 94; driving the feed mechanism 108; advancing the tape 120; reciprocating the cut-off blade 114; etc. have not been shown in detail since there are mechanical expedients well known in the industry.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing acarton form from a planar box blank having first and second side edges a first score line parallel to said side edges and centrally located therebetween to establish two equal major planar areas, and second and third score lines parallel to said 120 providing a slight nick therein. The forming roller conform to a generally inverted U-shaped configura-- first score line and located on opposite sides thereof,

said apparatus comprising: folding means for folding said box blank along said first 'score line and for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into superimposed relationship, whereby said first and second side edges will lie in juxtaposition and in alignment with each other, said folding means comprising center guide means for holding said box blank along said first score line and means for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into said superimposed relationship and means for applying separate joining means, separate from said box blank, to said so-folded box blank for joining said first and second side edges. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said joining means comprises:

adhesive applying means for applying adhesive to the outer surface of said box blank adjacent said first and second edges; and tape applying means for applying a strip of tape to said outer surfaces of said box blank adjacent said first and second edges. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 and further including:

scoring means for scoring said tape; and forming means for forming said tape into an inverted V-shape prior to its application to said outer surface of said box blank. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for urging said firstand second equal major planar areas into said superimposed relationship comprises side guide means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said folding means further includes first feed means for advancing said box blank along a predetermined path of travel in which said first score line passes beneath said center guide means;

said center guide means comprising a center rail; said side guide means comprising a pair of side rails disposed on opposite sides of said center rail between said first score line and second and third means comprises a pair of driven conveyor belts disposed on opposite sides of said folded box blank.

8. Apparatus for producing a carton form from a planar box blank having first and second side edges, a first score line parallel to said side edges and centrally located therebetween to establish two equal major planar areas, and second and third score lines parallel to said first score line and located on opposite sides thereof,

said apparatus comprising:

folding means for folding said box blank along said first score line and for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into superimposed relationship, whereby said first and second side edges will lie in juxtaposition and in alignment with each other, said folding means comprising center guide means for holding said box blank along said first score line and means for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into said superimposed relationship and means for applying joining means to said so-folded box blank for joining said first and second side edges, said means comprising tape applying means for applying a strip of tape to said outer surface of said box blank adjacent said first and second edges. 

1. Apparatus for producing a carton form from a planar box blank having first and second side edges a first score line parallel to said side edges and centrally located therebetween to establish two equal major planar areas, and second and third score lines parallel to said first score line and located on opposite sides thereof, said apParatus comprising: folding means for folding said box blank along said first score line and for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into superimposed relationship, whereby said first and second side edges will lie in juxtaposition and in alignment with each other, said folding means comprising center guide means for holding said box blank along said first score line and means for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into said superimposed relationship and means for applying separate joining means, separate from said box blank, to said so-folded box blank for joining said first and second side edges.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said joining means comprises: adhesive applying means for applying adhesive to the outer surface of said box blank adjacent said first and second edges; and tape applying means for applying a strip of tape to said outer surfaces of said box blank adjacent said first and second edges.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 and further including: scoring means for scoring said tape; and forming means for forming said tape into an inverted V-shape prior to its application to said outer surface of said box blank.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into said superimposed relationship comprises side guide means.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said folding means further includes first feed means for advancing said box blank along a predetermined path of travel in which said first score line passes beneath said center guide means; said center guide means comprising a center rail; said side guide means comprising a pair of side rails disposed on opposite sides of said center rail between said first score line and second and third score lines, respectively, said side rails extending gradually upwardly from a location below the plane of said box; the upper portions of said side rails converging to define an exit throat from which said folded box blank emerges in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane in which it was carried by said feed means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further including second feed means for advancing said folded box blank from said exit throat to said joining means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second feed means comprises a pair of driven conveyor belts disposed on opposite sides of said folded box blank.
 8. Apparatus for producing a carton form from a planar box blank having first and second side edges, a first score line parallel to said side edges and centrally located therebetween to establish two equal major planar areas, and second and third score lines parallel to said first score line and located on opposite sides thereof, said apparatus comprising: folding means for folding said box blank along said first score line and for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into superimposed relationship, whereby said first and second side edges will lie in juxtaposition and in alignment with each other, said folding means comprising center guide means for holding said box blank along said first score line and means for urging said first and second equal major planar areas into said superimposed relationship and means for applying joining means to said so-folded box blank for joining said first and second side edges, said means comprising tape applying means for applying a strip of tape to said outer surface of said box blank adjacent said first and second edges. 